Davinci Seo - Lesson 1 - Dmoz, The Digital Opus Dei
Google seems to have a problem on its hands. Much like Opus Dei, DMOZ has become a radical sect that remains a liability for everyone's favorite search giant. Google's long association with DMOZ and its “Powered by Humans" ranking technology, offers us a unique glimpse into the psyche of the search giant.
The study of DMOZ has taught the followers of Da Vinci SEO that the directory was born of good intention. In its purest form, DMOZ accomplishes what no Search Engine could ever hope to accomplish. To benefit from the study of DMOZ we need to step back and think about the inner workings of its editorial process and answer the following question.
What value does Google find in its continuing relationship with the ODP?
To answer this question lets take a look at the very distinct technologies of Google and DMOZ. When Google ranks a website for a given term, the algorithm employs a hard coded algebraic equation. This algorithm may consist of hundreds or thousands of unique statements. Take a look at the following examples comparing what might be happening behind the scenes on the two sites.
Google's Theoretical Algorithm
Inbound Link AVG Page Rank * Total Links = V
On Page Word Count * Key Phrase Density) = W
Bad Neighborhood Outbound Link Count = X
DMOZ Entry = Y Possible values 1.1 or 1 (True / False)
Other Negative Factors = Z Possible values 1/0 (Cloaking / Spam / Gambling / Illicit Material)
((V + W) – (X * 10) * Y) * Z = G Your Key Phrase Ranking
ODP's Theoretical Algorithm
Dear Editor Bob,
Please review each site according to the directory guidelines and add only those sites that in your opinion meet the DMOZ guidelines for directory inclusion.
www.SiteA.com
www.SIteB.com
www.SiteC.com
So what did we learn from looking at the preceding examples?
Da Vinci SEO Truth #1: To optimize for DMOZ is to optimize for your editors personal agenda. Satisfy this agenda and your site will be listed.
So why is DMOZ the digital equivalent of Opus Dei? In theory the human mind is the greatest information processor in the universe. Both the problem and beauty of DMOZ is that instead of a single rigid computer algorithm, DMOZ allows the human mind to process the quality of content. Early on, Google's founders realized the intrinsic value of a human edited directory. The founders believed that DMOZ was the embodiment of digital truth. What the founders of Google did not realized was that just as the Catholic Church would learn that human propensity for sin would lead Opus Dei to abandon its Christian principals so would DMOZ become rampant with dissimilar human opinion.
Jeremy W. Castonguay is the founder of several successful web properties including www.InduExchange.com and a new site that will be launching in the coming weeks known as www.DavinciSEO.com offering free tips and paid expert SEO and PPC services.
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